Region One announces top performing CSEC students

– Regional Education officers calls for more scholarships –

As the Regional Education Department of Region One has announced the names of its top nine
performing students at this year’s CSEC, the Regional Education Officer (REdO), Nigel
Richards has increased the call for more scholarships to be given to students excelling in his
region.
Speaking exclusively to www.aroundtheregions.com, Richards said that over the past six years
there continues to be significant improvement by the students writing both NGSA and CSEC.
Focusing on CSEC, Richards said that the matriculation rate continues to improve as more and
more students within the region are determined to excel at the regional exams.
He said that his region continues to feel proud and elated over the very impressive results. They
are calling on various agencies, organizations and departments to increase the number of
scholarships being offered to the region. “We are seeing more and more of our students getting
extremely good grades and while there are scholarships being made available, I am appealing to
agencies, organizations and ministries to create avenues so that more of our top students can
pursue their tertiary education at the University of Guyana,” Richards noted.
Richards who hails from Mabaruma in Region One dismissed the myth that students from
hinterland communities doesn’t have the potential to do well at CSEC, therefore many who go
on to the University of Guyana cannot excel. “This is a myth that needs to be immediately
corrected as several of our students has the potential of excelling at the University of Guyana.
Unfortunately, because of financial and other constraints many can ill afford to attend UG. This
is why I am appealing for increased scholarships,” Richards reiterated.
The longstanding educator said that students doing very well has been happening over the years,
noting that for the past six years several are able to achieve seven, eight, night and ten grade ones
at one sitting. This, he said dismisses the view that they cannot compete effectively like their
peers on the coastland.
“Educational growth and development is certainly on a track within the region and I must
express congratulations and best wishes to the teachers, education staff, parents and most
importantly the students, as they are evidently determined and we are seeing this from the
excellent results that they are turning in,” he argued.
Identifying the top three students, Richards pointed out that they returned 24 grade Ones, eight
grade Twos and two grade Threes. This, he said is an indication of what the country should
continue expecting from the hinterland communities. He stressed that every year it continues to
get better. He said despite the COVID 19 pandemic, the students are excelling. “We continue to
see significant improvement each year as the students are excelling and demonstrating that they
are blazing with educational growth,” he suggested.
The top student is Keron Anthony Williams securing nine grade Ones and three grade Twos.
Second place is Shania Mitchell with eight grade Ones, two grade Twos and one grade Three,

they both attended the Port Kaituma Secondary school. Third place is Carlos Timothy Hernandes
with seven grade Ones, three grade Twos and one grade Three. Hernandes attended the Santa
Rosa Secondary school. Alesandro Gamell with five grade Ones, five grade Twos and two grade
Threes secured fourth, fifth place was Glen Baptiste with five grade Ones and five grade Twos.
Both Gamell and Baptiste attended the North West Secondary School. Sixth position was Santa
Rosa secondary Shania Sherry Ann Rodrigues gaining four grade Ones, eight grade Twos and
two grade Threes. Kevon Pritchard of North West Secondary was seventh with four grade Ones
and seven grade Twos. Marianna Eleanor Gonsalves of Santa Rosa Secondary came in eight with
four grade Ones, three grade Twos and three grade Threes. Meanwhile, the ninth position was
Esther Kansinally with two grade Ones, four grade Twos and three grade Threes, she attended
Port Kaituma secondary.